Terror threat hasn't kept Americans from Jordan

Q&A

December 16, 2007|By (San Jose, Calif.) Mercury News

I'd like to plan a trip to Petra, Jordan, next year, but I'm not sure this is a smart idea. Where can I find more information?

Make no mistake, the threat of terrorism exists in Jordan. The U.S. State Department warns that anti-American sentiment is high, although that has not dissuaded many Americans from traveling there: About 200,000 visit the country every year, more than come from any other country in the world, said Gisele Abrahao, marketing director for the Jordan Tourism Board (seejordan.org). She insists Jordan is safe and friendly.

Jordan is very much a Westernized country. Abrahao said you'll find many restaurants, clubs and bars open in the evening. Crime is low.

To learn what other travelers have experienced there, check the forums on lonelyplanet.com or tripadvisor.com.

I've been to the Space Needle in Seattle, the Sydney Tower in Australia, the CN Tower in Toronto and the Eiffel Tower. What other towers can I add to my collection?

You're off to a good start, but you have plenty more to scale.

Check the World Federation of Great Towers Web site (great-tow ers.com) for a comprehensive list of some impressive structures, including two you have visited: the CN Tower, the world's tallest at 1,815 feet, and the Sydney Tower.

We suggest you work in descending order: Try the Ostankino Tower in Russia, the second tallest in the world at 1,771 feet, and the Oriental Pearl Tower in Shanghai (the tallest tower in Asia) at 1,535 feet.

In Dubai, the under-construction Burj Dubai (burjdubai.com) has reached 1,921 feet. Its final height has not been determined, but it will become the world's tallest.

Closer to home, you might want to check out the Sears Tower in Chicago (1,451 feet), the tallest building in North America.